A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling that prevents the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from enforcing fines on broadcast stations across the country, News About Nigeria reports.
Justice James Omotosho declared the N500,000 fines imposed by NBC on 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019, to be null and void.
Justice Omotosho explained that NBC, as a non-judicial body, does not possess the authority to impose punitive sanctions on alleged violators among the broadcast stations.
He emphasized that NBC’s actions conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution, which explicitly grants judicial power to the courts.
The judge firmly expressed that the court cannot simply stand by and witness an organization arbitrarily imposing fines without adhering to the law.
He further pointed out that the commission failed to comply with legal procedures by acting as both the complainant and the adjudicator in its own case.
This judgment stems from a lawsuit filed by a group known as the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda and is identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021.
In essence, the court ruling serves as a significant blow to NBC’s ability to levy fines on broadcast stations without proper legal jurisdiction.
The implications of this ruling extend beyond the immediate case and have broader implications for NBC’s future enforcement activities.
It establishes a precedent that could limit the commission’s ability to unilaterally impose fines on broadcast stations without proper legal recourse.
This ruling emphasizes the necessity of adherence to established legal frameworks, particularly when it comes to imposing penalties and sanctions.
The court’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that no organization or regulatory body should act as a judge in its own case.
